Arctic Building, Beaux-Arts office building in downtown Seattle, United States

The Arctic Building stands ten stories at Third Avenue and Cherry Street in downtown Seattle, featuring cream-colored terra cotta facades decorated with submarine blue and orange-brown trim. The structure displays large windows paired with ornamental details that give it a distinctive presence on the city block.

Built in 1916 by successful Klondike Gold Rush veterans, the building served as the Arctic Club headquarters until the organization disbanded in 1971. Its creation reflects Seattle's connection to northern exploration during the early 1900s.

The walrus heads lining the third floor are a pun on the club's name: the Arctic Club was founded in 1908 by veterans of the Klondike Gold Rush, and its members adopted the walrus as their emblem. The heads were modelled in terra cotta supplied by the Denny-Renton Clay and Coal Company, a local manufacturer that furnished much of Seattle's early 20th-century terracotta.

The building now operates as a hotel with 120 guest rooms and sits within walking distance of Pike Place Market, Lumen Field, and multiple public transportation options. Its central downtown location makes it easy to reach other attractions on foot.

The walrus heads on the third floor were modelled on the club's name, and the terra cotta came from the Denny-Renton Clay and Coal Company nearby. When members moved from the old clubhouse, they lowered the bar out of a window; the club president later paid compensation to settle the matter.